Government finalising National ICT Strategy

Minister of Public Administration, the Honourable Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan (fourth from left) at the CONNECT THE AMERICAS sumit

July 19, 2012:

Minister of Public Administration the Honourable Carolyn Seepersad Bachan is representing Trinidad and Tobago at the CONNECT THE AMERICAS which was officially opened today  in Panama City, Panama. The President of the Republic of Panama, H.E. Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal, gave the opening address. This was followed by a review of the important contribution that broadband connectivity is going to make to the future development of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Minister Seepersad Bachan in her address explained that the Summit speaks directly to what Trinidad and Tobago is trying to accomplish with information and communication technologies (ICT) as the country is finalising a new National ICT Strategy and a national broadband plan. She explained that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago aims to achieve 100% broadband coverage through public and private partnership arrangements supplemented by the strategic use of the Universal Service Fund; and bolstered by legislative and regulatory reform, which ensures openness and transparency.

The CONNECT THE AMERICAS Summit is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and is hosted by the Government of the Republic of Panama. The Summit is expected to create opportunities to attract commitments and investments in human, financial and technical resources which are required to connect everyone in the region to information and communication technologies (ICT). The Summit offers a venue for regional leaders from the public and private sectors, as well as international and regional financing and development agencies to network face-to-face and forge new partnerships for the accelerated roll-out of broadband connectivity.